ss, they bade farewell to the
old chief, and several of the principal inhabitants came hurrying
down to the waterside to take their leave, to give them their
blessing, and to wish them a successful voyage. The men at first
paddled sluggishly, and the canoe went slowly through the water, for
which reason they were two hours before they reached the middle of
the river. A few miles from the town, they saw with emotions of
pleasure a seagull, which flew over their heads, which to them was a
most gratifying sight, for it reminded them forcibly of the object
which they had in view, and they fondly allowed it to confirm their
hopes, that they were drawing very near their journey's end.

For many miles they could see nothing but large, open, well-built
villages on both banks of the river, but more especially on the
eastern, yet they touched at none of these goodly places, but
continued their journey till the sun began to decline, when they
stopped at a small hamlet on an island, with the intention of
sleeping there, cut the inhabitants mistrusted their intentions, and
were alarmed at their appearance; they would not even grant them an
accommodation for the night, although they assured them, that the
most homely, the most shattered hut would answer their purpose;
fearing, however, that they might enforce their request, they did all
they could to induce them to proceed onwards a little further, when
they would arrive at a city of considerable importance called
Kacunda, where plenty of provisions could be obtained, and where the
inhabitants would pay the greatest attention to them.

Kacunda is situated on the western bank of the river, and at a little
distance, it has an advantageous and uncommonly fine appearance. The
only access to the town was by winding channels, that interspersed an
unwholesome swamp, nearly two miles in breadth. It was evening when
they arrived there, and the people at first were alarmed at their
appearance, but they were soon welcomed on shore by an old mahommedan
priest, who speedily introduced them into an excellent and commodious
hut, once the residence of a prince, but then the domicile of a
schoolmaster.

Kacunda, properly speaking, consists of three or four villages, all
of them considerably large, but unconnected, though situated within a
very short distance of each other. It is the capital of a state or
kingdom of the same name, which is quite independent of Nouffie, or
any other foreign power.